THERE once was a teacher who promised he would turn into a fairy princess and paddle out on Lake Wendouree with his sparkle wand should pupils get jumping. A lot.
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Pleasant Street primary raised $14,000 in Jump Rope for Heart. Physical education coordinator Steve Eichler had thought $10,000 – the magical amount to turn him fairy princess – would be a big ask. The school raised $7000 last year.
And so, on what Mr Eichler was relieved to be a still and warm afternoon, he got in his wings on the water.
“At the start of the challenge, we were doing Eye of the Tiger as a bit of a warm up and most kids couldn’t make it through to the lyrics. By the end we had classes making it through to the end and every play at lunch we’re seeing all the kids out there skipping,” Mr Eichler said. “It’s been amazing.”
Pupils have already been asking if the ropes can stay for more playtimes so they can continue to master their new skills like the bell, the skiier, the criss cross and, a school favourite, the wounded duck.
Old schoolyard challenge double-Dutch it seems still causes some challenges.
Seven-year-old Lewis raised $1015 by jumping for children like his brother Harry, who was born with a hole in his heart. Harry, now in grade prep, says his heart is all better now. He had an operation at the Royal Children’s Hospital when he was one and he can now run and jump rope like all the other children.
Lewis said his uncles were good sponsors, but lots of family and friends chipped in and it all added up.
Jump Rope for Heart is a six-week school program to promote physical activity and heart disease awareness.
Money raised supports the Heart Foundation in its work to fight heart disease.
QUICK JUMP ROPE FACTS
- Since the program began in 1983, almost 10 million Australian children and more than 90 per cent of Australian schools have taken part skipped
- One in four Australian children are classified as overweight or obese and two in three are not active enough for their health
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